Medication dispensing tray and support therefor



Nov. 7, 1967 c. E. MURCOTT 3,351,210

MEDICATION DISPENSING TRAY AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed March 14, 1966 INVENTOR CH/IRL 5 E. Ml/ACO rr BY Opu/M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,351,210 MEDICATION DISPENSING TRAY AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Charles E. Murcott, Valley Drive, Bay Crest, Huntington, N.Y. 11743 Filed Mar. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 534,141 Claims. (Cl. 211-74) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus including the combination of a plurality of trays and an open wire tray supporting frame for use in hospitals when medications are being delivered and administered to patients; each tray having a plurality of tapered-wall receptacles for the reception of medication cups, .a plurality of channels for the reception of hypodermic syringes, and a plurality of card receiving sockets adjacent the receptacles for patient, dosage and medication identification.

This invention relates to a tray having a plurality of spaced receptacles thereon for reception of cups containing medications and the like for delivery to a patient, as well as a plurality of channels for support of hypodermic syringes or the like. Further, the tray includes a plurality of card receiving sockets associated with the receptacles and channels wherein each card identifies the patients name, the room number, the associated medication, as well as dosage and the time of administration of the medication in maintaining a complete record of use of the tray.

Still further, my invention deals with a support frame, upon which a plurality of trays can be mounted, thus facilitating administration of a number of medications by a nurse in hospitals and other institutions.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspectiveview showing a support frame, with a pair of trays arranged thereon and indicating, in dot-dash lines, position of other trays on one side of the frame and also showing, in dot-dash lines, two of the cards associated with one of the trays.

FIG. 2 is a more complete and accurate plan view of one of the trays illustrating, in part, in full lines a hypodermic syringe arranged in one of the channels of the tray, part of the syringe being illustrated in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 2 and illustrating in elevation the hypodermic syringe; and

FIG. 4 is a partial section on the line 44 of FIG. 1 illustrating one of the cards mounted in a card receiving socket, as well as a cup disposed in the receptacle.

Considering FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, 10 represents a dispenser tray made according to my invention and, in the present illustration, this tray has a pair of similar cup receiving receptacles 11 at each end thereof and a similar but somewhat modified pair of receptacles 12 centrally of the tray.

Considering FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the receptacles 11 have therebetween a deep recess 13 formed by lowering the top wall of the tray and this forms a transverse bridging wall 14, which reinforces the receptacles in each pair. Contrasting to this and noting particularly FIG. 4 of the drawing, the center receptacles 12 simply have a center channel 15 formed in the top wall 16 of the tray. The channel extends to ends of the tray but is interrupted by the recesses 13. Between the receptacles 11 and 12 at both sides of the tray are other channel portions 17.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, I have shown, at least in part at 18, the hypodermic syringe mounted in the center channel 15. However, in the use of the tray, other syringes or the like can be mounted in the other channels 17 as and when cups are not disposed in at least part of the receptacles, as will be apparent.

At sides of the tray 10 and associated with the several receptacles are card receiving "and supporting sockets 19 adjacent the receptacles 11 and 19' adjacent the receptacles 12. Another socket 19" is also arranged adjacent the center channel 15, as clearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

As each of the sockets are of the same construction, the brief description of one will be suflicient. The sockets have, centrally of the lower portion thereof, a bottom stop wall 20, which limits the downward movement of cards 21 when positioned in the sockets. The sockets are formed with inwardly projecting beads 22 on opposed walls thereof which project slightly to provide a frictional engagement with the cards 21-inserted therein to prevent accidental displacement of the cards. 1

Considering FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, it will be apparent that all of the receptacles are contracted or tapered downwardly and the bottom walls of the receptacles have centrally thereof apertures 23 and these apertures provide a secondary support for hypodermic syringes or the like, the taperedends 18' of which, shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2, frictionally engaging the apertures 23 in support of the syringes in upright position in the receptacles.

From this standpoint, it will be apparent that the entire tray can be utilized for support of syringes or the like. However,,in some instances, one or more of the receptacles can also include a cup, as at 24 in FIG. 4 of the drawing. These cups have tapered walls which will frictionally engage the tapered receptacles in support of the cups substantially as illustrated in FIG. 4, leaving the upper portion of the cups freely accessible for engagement by'the nurse in removal of-the same for administration to the patient. The angular arrangement of the sockets 19 with respect to the sockets. 1-9' is primarily to minimize the overall length of-the tray, I q I Turning now to thet showing in FIG. 1 of the drawing, at 25 I have shown .a tray support frame, generally ob:- long and rectangular in form, and comprising upper and lower frames 26 and 27, each comprising long sides 28, 29 joined by end rails 30, 31, respectively. At 32 are four corner posts joining corners of the frames 26, 27. The sides 28 are also reinforced by uprights 33, three of which are shown. The ends of the frames include U-shaped handle frames 34 which project above the top rails 30 forming handgrips and also join 30 with 31 in reinforcing the ends of the frame. The central portion of the frame is further reinforced by pairs of spaced rods 35, 36, respectively, the rods 35 also serving as tray support rods in combination with the side rods 28 of the top frame 26.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, and in order to simplify the illustration, one pair of trays is shown diagrammatically supported on the central portion of the frame with the trays in end to end relationship and with their inner ends adjacent each other and supported on the rods 35. In dot-dash lines, I have indicated that two other pairs of trays can be supported at each end of the frame, illustrating that a total of ten trays can be supported on the support frame 25, as shown. This is by way of illustration, as the frame can be made to support any number of pairs of trays and this would largely depend upon the size of the hospital and the number of patients who would be 3 attended by a nurse in a single performance of administration of medication.

By virtue of the molding of trays in plastic, as will be apparent from the structure disclosed, these trays can be maintained in sanitary conditions at all times and it should be pointed out-that, as and when syringes or the like are supported in the channels 17, one of the sockets at each side of the tray will be utilized for the support of the identification card 21. In like manner, when syringes or the like are supported in the apertures 23, the various sockets at sides of the tray will again identify the medications of the various supported syringes or the like.

For purposes of description, the trays, in combination with the support frame, can be referred to as a dispensing assemblage utilized for the purpose heretofore more fully' set forth. Also the frames 26 and 27 can be referred to as rectangular members. The deep recesses 13 provide a space for receiving a flange portion on the hypodermic syringe, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. It will, thus, be seen that not only is the syringe supported flatly in the channel 15, but the flange, in combination with the end of the syringe, will serve to retain the syringe against displacement, particularly in any angular handling of the tray. It will, further, be apparent that the receptacles 11 serve the same purpose when syringes are arranged in the channel 17.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A medication dispensing assemblage comprising a plurality of trays, each tray having a predetermined number of cup receiving receptacles, the upper surface of each tray having channels for support of hypodermic syringes therein, means adjacent each of the receptacles and at least one of said channels for support of identification cards on the tray, a tray support frame comprising upper and lower rectangular members, ends of said support frame including upwardly projecting handgrips, the upper rectangular member having centrally and longitudinally thereof a pair of rods, said pair of rods, in combination with the sides of the upper rectangular member, being adapted to support pairs of trays in endwise arrangement to each other on said support frame, and means for bracing and spacing the upper and lower rectangular members of said support frame.

2. An assemblage as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower rectangular member of said support frame includes means centrally and longitudinally thereof for reinforcing said lower rectangular member,

3. A dispenser tray of the character defined having a plurality of cup receptacles arranged in pairs, with the receptacles of each pair disposed at sides of the tray, means centrally and longitudinally of the tray forming a 4 hypodermic syringe supporting channel, the tray including a top wall, means adjacent said channel and at side edge portions of the tray forming card receiving sockets opening upwardly through said top wall, means checking downward movement of cards in said sockets, and said receptacles being contracted downwardly for support of cups having downwardly contracted side walls with the upper portions of the cups projecting above the top wall of the tray.

4. A tray as defined in claim 3,wherein the receptacles include bottom walls having apertures therein for the support of hypodermic syringes.

5. A tray as defined in claim 3, wherein predetermined pairs of receptacles. are reinforced ,by transverse bridging walls.

6. A tray as defined in claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the tray includes means in central alinement with receptacles at sides of the tray for forming other longitudinal hypodermic syringe supporting channels on the tray.

7. A tray as defined in claim 4, wherein the upper surface of the tray includes means in central alinement with receptacles at sides, of the tray for forming other longi-,

tudinal hypodermic syringe supporting channels on the tray.

8. A tray as defined in claim 3, wherein said sockets include means for frictional engagement of the cards therewith in retaining said cards against accidental displacement from the sockets.

9. A tray as defined in claim 8,;wherein the sockets at sides of the tray are disposed in angular relationship to each other.

10. A tray as defined in claim 3, wherein the tray is formed of molded plastic material, and the receptacles comprise similar pairs at ends of the tray having means reinforcing the receptacles in each pair, and the central pair of receptacles including therebetween one of said card supporting sockets arranged adjacent said channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,396 12/ 1935 Meinecke 206-72 2,344,937 3/1944 Brazier 211-126 XR 2,659,485 11/1953 Duley et a1 20672 3,032,186 5/1962 Jenkins 206-72 3,261,660 7/1966 Wilkinson 211 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 934,679 8/1963 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. K. I. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MEDICATION DISPENSING ASSEMBLAGE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF TRAYS, EACH TRAY HAVING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF CUP RECEIVING RECEPTACLES, THE UPPER SURFACE OF EACH TRAY HAVING CHANNELS FOR SUPPORT OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGES THEREIN, MEANS ADJACENT EACH OF THE RECEPTACLES AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CHANNELS FOR SUPPOT OF IDENTIFICTION CARDS ON THE TRAY, A TRAY SUPPORT FRAME COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER RECTANGULAR MEMBERS, ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT FRAME INCLUDING UPWARDLY PROJECTING HANDGRIPS, THE UPPER RECTANGULAR MEMBER HAVING CENTRALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF A PAIR OF RODS, SAID PAIR OF RODS, IN COMBINATION WITH THE SIDES OF THE UPPER RECTANGULAR MEMBER, BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT PAIRS OF TRAYS IN ENDWISE ARRANGEMENT TO EACH OTHER ON SAID SUPPORT FRAME, AND MEANS FOR BRACING AND SPACING THE UPPER AND LOWER RECTANGULAR MEMBERS OF SAID SUPPORT FRAME. 